PC Declan Jones was sacked from West Midlands Police after being found guilty of assault by a district judge in August
A police officer who was jailed for attacking a 15-year-old black boy and a black cyclist while on duty has been found dead by his parents at his home.
PC Declan Jones was discovered by his horrified mother and father at his home in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire yesterday afternoon. He is believed to have taken his own life.
The 30-year-old was sacked from West Midlands Police after being found guilty of assault by a district judge in August.
He was recorded on CCTV pulling a 44-year-old black cyclist to the floor in Birmingham before punching him and kicking him and later pushing his face into the bonnet of a patrol vehicle in April last year.
Less than 24 hours later he was filmed kicking and punching the black teenager after wrongly accusing him of possessing drugs in the Newtown area of the city.
Officers from West Mercia Police attended the address in Bromsgrove, where Jones had spent Christmas.
A force spokesman said: ‘On 28 December, officers were called to an address in Bromsgrove following reports of concern for the welfare of man in his 30s.
‘Sadly, the man was pronounced dead at around 12.45pm. We don’t believe there to be any third party involvement in the death and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.’
Jones (pictured outside court in August) was charged in October 2020 after an Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) inquiry
Jones, pictured top right, was filmed throwing punches at this cyclist on hood of police car
During his trial earlier this year, Coventry Magistrates Court was shown security camera footage of PC Jones grabbing innocent cyclist Michael Rose, 44, off his bicycle in the middle of the street in Aston, Birmingham, on April 20 2020.
He had believed him to have stolen his phone. While Mr Rose was held down by a female officer, Jones punched him three times in the back while appearing to bang his head on the bonnet of the patrol car.
Disturbing footage shows the officer only stopping the attack when a silver Ford Focus drove past the scene. The officer then appeared to punch the man again before kneeing him in the side as his colleague put the handcuffs on. Several passers-by appealed to the officer to stop, but Jones responded by body slamming Mr Rose against the car.
The next day Jones was caught on camera kicking the boy, who was not named for legal reasons, while on the ground.
In footage shown in court, Jones grappled with the youngster. Jones claimed he had used reasonable force in self-defence but he was found guilty of using unlawful force after a five-day trial at Coventry Magistrates’ Court.
District Judge Shamim Qureshi said the two complainants were of good character, rejecting Jones’ claims that they were only seeking compensation. He found the officer’s use of force in both incidents ‘unlawful’.
He said: ‘None of the complainants went immediately to the police to allege assault. They only did so after being advised in the community.’
Following the guilty verdicts, Jones was then dismissed without notice by West Midlands Police Chief Constable Sir David Thompson at an accelerated misconduct hearing.
Sir David said of Jones: ‘The officer’s conduct has clearly fallen far below what ought to be expected of any police officer. The conduct is criminal and has caused a serious impact on the public view of West Midlands Police.
‘I fully apologise to his victims in this case. I can see no sanction other than the officer should be dismissed without notice.’
Sir David said the case also involved a ‘national concern’ surrounding the use of force by the police on members of the black community.
He added: ‘Getting this right and ensuring our black communities know this is an imperative for me and every right-thinking person on this force. It requires each of us to strive to be better… so we can remove the stain that this police officer’s actions has placed on our force.’
The assaults were investigated by the Independence Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) but the board did not find Jones guilty of gross misconduct over the discrimination allegations made by the victims.
Jones was released from prison in December.
He was facing trial in October next year for another alleged assault.
He was accused of committing actual bodily harm against Trevaile Wyse in an incident involving a Taser last year.
The former officer was charged after an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Jones denied the charge.
West Midlands Ambulance Service told MailOnline: ‘We were called to a property on Patch Street, Bromsgrove at 12.44pm yesterday.
‘Three ambulances and a paramedic officer attended to find a man in cardiac arrest. Sadly, nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed deceased on scene.’
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